RAISING MONEY … Shelly Ledyard is hoping to compete in the World’s Toughest Mudder event in Georgia in November. (PHOTO BY JAMES PRUITT)
(Story originally appeared October 3rd, 2018)
By: James Pruitt
A Fulton County woman is raising money to run around in the mud for 24 hours on an obstacle course filled various challenges. The woman is Shelly Ledyard, a former U.S. Marine and current Ohio State Trooper, who likes to compete in Tough Mudder series’ events. The Tough Mudder events have become a part of her life since she was introduced to them in 2013.
This passion has led her to want to participate in The Toughest Mudder, a 24-hour timed competitive race that is the ultimate challenge to a person like herself. The event features camaraderie as well as competition and it feeds the rush she requires. “It’s like an addiction,” Ledyard said. “My family thinks I am nuts.”
To get there, she created a Go Fund Me page with the goal of raising $2,000. Ledyard loves a good challenge, she said. “I have a personal motto of ‘doing what I can while I can’ and to live life to its fullest,” Ledyard said. “Life is too short to worry about the little things.
Ledyard joined the Marines right out of high school in 2001. She was in boot camp when her superiors told her platoon about events of Sept. 11, 2001. “We thought they were joking at first,” Ledyard said.
She found The Tough Mudder Series in 2013 and has competed in 12 events throughout the Midwest, Northeast and Canada. She loves the challenge and collecting headbands for finishing the various courses.
Tough Mudder events are the main charity for the Team Rubicon Disaster Response Organization. Team Rubicon is an international non-government organization founded by U.S. Marines William McNulty and Jacob “Jake” Wood.
Team Rubicon identifies itself as a veteran service organization that uses disaster response to help reintegrate veterans back into civilian life. While she has re-entered civilian life, she knows many her comrades did not.
“I lost fellow Marines who were both brothers and friends while I was deployed in Iraq. I was one of the fortunate to come back, for the most part, in one piece,” Ledyard stated in her letter on her Go Fund Me page. “Those less fortunate suffer daily from physical injuries and countless more are suffering from psychological injuries.”
By pairing the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders, medical professionals, and technology solutions, Team Rubicon aims to provide the greatest service and impact possible.
“As a Marine veteran myself it is of the utmost importance to do the things I can to live my life to the fullest while at the same time supporting great organizations like Team Rubicon that support our country’s veterans,” Ledyard said.
The Tough Mudder series involves three competitive races with each race more insane than the one before, the promoters say. The first race is the Tough Mudder, a timed-competitive race wave.
The second is the Tougher Mudder which, according to Wikipedia, is an endurance event in which participants attempt a 10–12-mile-long obstacle course that tests mental as well as physical strength.
It involves electricity, ice, water, and lots of mud. There are 20-plus obstacles that push the mind and body of competitors. Many of the Tough Mudder obstacles are mind over matter which helps participants conquer their fears.
“There is amazing camaraderie, much like that which takes place in not only active military units but also in the veteran community, that takes place between total strangers who all come together and work together as a team and the goal of completing the Obstacle course,” Ledyard stated on her page.
Ledyard needs to compete in one more event, the Toughest Mudder, this year to qualify for the ultimate prize, The Holy Grail. The Toughest Mudder is a 24-hour event with the goal of completing as many laps on a 5-mile course as possible. She will be honored for completing 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles.
“I completed the Tough Mudder in (Oxford), Michigan June 2 completing four laps for 20 total miles. My Tougher Mudder race was in Chicago Aug. 25, and the World’s Toughest Mudder takes place in Georgia Nov 10-11. Obtaining the Holy Grail has been a goal of Ledyard since completing her first event.
Completing these Tough Mudder events, gives her a peace of mind and sense of accomplishment knowing she is not only conquering personal obstacles but continuing to do she can to help her fellow veterans in need.
“These events help me to stay in shape mentally and physically while helping my fellow brother and sister veterans make a difference in their lives,” Ledyard said. Any support would be appreciated since this will probably be her only chance to earn the Grail. Any donations raised in excess of the cost will be donated directly to the Team Rubicon organization.
Ledyard can be reached at srl1899@gmail.com.
Donations can be mailed to;
Shelly Ledyard
10746 Co Rd A.
Wauseon, OH 43567
Or online at;
https://www.gofundme.com/help-me-help-our-wounded-heroes